Open-Source Automated Driving

Qualifying the future of
open-source
automated driving.

We build the benchmark for transparent, trustworthy and sovereign AD software for the next generation of mobility companies. The goal is clear: make open-source driving stacks easier to evaluate, easier to trust, and easier to integrate.

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The Problem We Solve

The Trust Gap in Open-Source AD

Open-source automated driving stacks are powerful, but without transparent benchmarking and qualification, industrial adoption remains slow and risky.

Regulators

Need auditable evidence for every component and the overall system.

Internal Procurement

Need documented qualification they can sign off on.

Program Leads

Need benchmarks they trust and they can defend in a review.

We close that gap. Not with black-box claims, but with transparent benchmarks run on your data, structured qualification documentation, and evidence that holds up where it counts.

How We Solve It

Discovery, Evaluation, Qualification

Automotive and robotics teams building on open-source software face one core challenge: regulators and OEM procurement teams want proof of systematic component evaluation. We make that proof possible: fast, structured, and traceable.

Discover

We identify the right open-source components for your target application and compliance requirements and map them against your existing stack.

Evaluate

We run reproducible benchmarks across real operating scenarios and safety conditions. Testing performance, safety, and reliability on your data for your auditable evidence.

Qualify

We produce structured qualification documentation aligned with ISO 26262 & 21448 and relevant industry standards: Ready for your internal sign-off or external audit.

Our Offer

Built on the Open-Source Ecosystem

The offer is rooted in open ecosystems, scenario testing, and structured technical evaluation, not in black-box claims.

Prototype Available

Benchmarking

Automated evaluation and testing for open-source AD components. Transparent, reproducible metrics and report generation.

ROS2 Autoware ISO 26262 ISO 21448 ISO/PAS 8800 Scenario-Based
Coming Soon

Long Term Support in Integration and Maintenance

Expert consulting to help OEM and autonomy teams select, adopt and integrate open-source AD-software into real delivery pipelines.

Coming Soon

Decision-Ready Confidence & Qualification

Bring benchmark language, scenario evidence, and system tradeoffs into one framework for seamless qualification.

Our Values

We Value Open-Source - Real Code, no Empty Promises

Technical Credibility Signals

  • Based on open frameworks like ROS and Autoware for open-stack evaluation.
  • Fully transparent evaluation processes.
  • Scenario-based full stack testing, and simulation.

What Thinking Cars is not doing

  • Not overselling a public product that does not exist yet.
  • Not treating benchmarking as generic innovation theater.
  • Not separating strategic positioning from technical proof and delivery reality.
The People behind Thinking Cars

Built on Deep Domain Expertise

With deep experience in autonomy research and software integration, the team is focused on making open-source AD-software more accessible and trustworthy for real-world application.

Portrait of TW
Strategy and Technology

Dr.-Ing. Timo Woopen

CEO

AD-research at RWTH | PhD in AD-collective-learning | led the UNICARagil project | connects system architecture, maintainability, and delivery pressure without losing technical rigor.

Portrait of RK
Architecture

Raphael van Kempen

Lead Architect

AD-research at RWTH | works on his PhD in AD system architecture | led the autotech.agil project | builds OSS-based AD benchmarking framework and data loop.

Portrait of HU
Development

Dr.-Ing. Haohao Hu

Lead Developer

AD-research at KIT | PhD in AD-mapping | focuses on benchmark logic, scenario framing, and evidence that stakeholders can actually use.

Co-Founders

Strong network and decades of expertise in automated driving.

Portrait of LE
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Lutz Eckstein ika RWTH | VDI President

Anchors TC's industry credibility through policy reach and OEM network.

Portrait of CS
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christoph Stiller mrt KIT | IEEE Chair (SDA-TC)

Grounds TC's benchmarking competence in decades of AD-research and evaluation leadership.

Portrait of KD
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus Dietmayer mrm UULM

Drives TC's technical depth in sensor fusion and open-source stack evaluation.

Our History and Roadmap

2021 Past

Foundation

Thinking Cars GmbH is founded from UNICARagil to turn autonomy research and systems knowledge into customer-ready delivery and clearer software decisions.

2022 Past

UNICARagil Partnership

TC joined the UNICARagil consortium to strengthen its position in the open-source automated driving space.

2022-2025

autotech.agil Funding and First Benchmark Platform

TC joined the autotech.agil initiative and showcases first reusable benchmark environment for structured software comparison.

2026 · Now

First Open-Source Integration Milestone

We joined the Ecosystem Mobility 4.0 initiative by the German federal ministry of economics and energy with our transparent evaluation approach.

2027+

Open AD Stack Integration Expands

The roadmap grows toward broader benchmarking integration, qualification logic, and delivery readiness for open-source automated driving software.

2028+

Open AD Stack on the Road

We formed an ecosystem of well evaluated open-source automated driving components. Tested and qualified for real-world deployment.

Next Step

Be among the first to work with us.

Get Early Access

We're onboarding a small number of early partners who want more transparent evaluation, stronger trust signals, and a clearer path into open-source automated driving software.